Construction news

• £1bn London Blackfriars tower blocks approved

  30-04-2024 08:31 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  A US-Korean development consortium has got the planning green light for a trio of towers at the southern end of Blackfriars Bridge in London.
  The landmark £1bn scheme of around 1m sq ft involves building two residential towers of 40 and 22 storeys and an office building reaching 45 storeys and topping out at nearly 200m.
  Developer Hines, alongside the National Pension Service of Korea, bought the 18 Blackfriars Road site for £208m in 2021.The approval, which was secured working with
  
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• Aluminium cladding specialist collapses

  20-05-2024 09:16 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Aluminium cladding, doors and windows specialist RKN Aluminium has fallen into administration.
  RKN Aluminium was established in 2006, and since provided specialist curtain wall, window and door designing, manufacturing and fitting to hundreds of projects around the country.
  The Melton Mowbray-based firm had recently moved into purpose-built premises and employed around 30 staff delivering service for a host of contractors like VolkerFitzpatrick, Glencar and AsheRKN also worked closely with Bowme
  
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• Brickwork contractor Lee Marley returns to profit

  20-05-2024 08:34 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  The country’s largest integrated brickwork and scaffolding subcontractor Lee Marley Brickwork has returned to profit buoyed by larger multi-storey and complex projects.
  The brickwork specialist bounced back to a £2.8m pre-tax profit last year after a prior year loss of £2.2m in the face of wage and materials inflation.
  Revenue over the year to December 2023 was up over a fifth to £80m driving a jump in staff numbers to 210 from around 180 in the more challenging prior yea
  
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• Farrans makes breakthrough on tricky tunnel job

  20-05-2024 08:31 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Farrans Construction has completed an innovative tunnelling operation for Northumbrian Water as a TBM completed an underground crossing of the River Tees.
  The 220m tunnel is part of Phase 1 of a new £155m water pipeline to be constructed while protecting the watercourse and the wildlife that relies upon it.
  Northumbrian Water’s Project Pipeline: County Durham and Tees Valley will see the construction of around 57km of new pipes connecting Lartington Water Treatment Works with  2
  
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• Heidelberg buys aggregates and earthworks specialist B&A

  20-05-2024 08:08 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Heidelberg Materials UK has acquired south west aggregates recycling and earthworks contractor B&A Group.
  The move follows the recent acquisition of earthmoving and demolition waste recycling contractor Mick George Group by Heidelberg last monthBristol-based B&A employs a team of 70 and specialises in the supply of  recycled and primary aggregate as well as site clearance, earthworks, land remediation and sustainable land regeneration.Last year its had a turnover in excess of £
  
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• Housing contractor Durkan suffers second year of losses

  20-05-2024 07:54 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  South East housing contractor and developer Durkan suffered a second year of losses last year after further provisions for fire safety legacy work.
  Despite a 30% rise in revenue to £172m, the provisions and pressure on the housing market saw it suffer pre-tax losses of £3.9m in 2023, improved from a £9.3m loss in the prior year.
  During 2023, Durkan increased provision by £6.7m to bring a total carrying amount set aside for fire safety works to £12.6m.Durkan trading
  
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• Flagship biodiversity net gain scheme flawed

  17-05-2024 09:53 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Rules requiring developers to deliver a 10% improvement in biodiversity from new building projects in England are flawed.
  According to a report today by the public spending watchdog, the Government’s scheme launched last February has serious operational shortcomings that could eventually undermine the flagship scheme.
  Under the rules, developers must now achieve a 10% uplift in biodiversity at a site.
  When on-site gains are not enough to meet the 10% requirement, off-site gains can be crea
  
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• Plan in for £3bn Lincolnshire mega data centre

  17-05-2024 09:08 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Plans to build a £3bn next-generation AI-training data centre have been submitted to North Lincolnshire Council.
  The 3.3m sq ft hyperscale scheme will be built on land by the A160 near South Killingholme and would rank as one of Europe’s largest data centres.
  The total construction cost for the completed data centre will depend on the precise specification but is likely to range from a minimum £2.2bn to well over £3bn.Cost breakdown
  Land and building shell (15% to 20%): c
  
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• £210m M3 Junction 9 upgrade gains consent

  17-05-2024 09:05 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  The Government has granted development consent for the M3 Junction 9 Improvement near Winchester in Hampshire.
  VolkerFitzpatrick is lined up to deliver the complex £210m Winnall roundabout scheme.
  Programmed works include the creation of four traffic lanes in each direction of the M3 as well as building a same-direction free-flow link between the M3 and A34.Also VolkerFitzpatrick will be constructing three new bridges, rearranging the main junction 9 roundabout and providing a number of ot
  
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• £400m Lewisham resi-led scheme advances

  17-05-2024 09:04 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Residential living specialist Amro Partners has advanced plans to build its largest scheme to date in South East London.
  The firm has bought Lewisham Retail Park to paving the way for a £400m development that will provide 1,000 new homes.
  Over the last 18 months, Amro has acquired various adjoining land holdings from a number of private landowners, concluding with the acquisition of the Lewisham Retail Park site and remaining land holdings from Legal & General.Forming one of the final
  
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• Green light for Digbeth 1,300 homes scheme

  17-05-2024 09:03 via constructionenquirer.com
  Build to rent developer Dandara Living has got the planning thumbs up to build over 1,300 new homes and 30,000 sq ft of commercial space at Warner’s Fields in Digbeth.
  Work can now begin to regenerate the brownfield site, which is located within a mile of rail, tram, bus and coach connections.
  The development will deliver a new neighbourhood centred around a renaturalised River Rea, which runs through the middle of the site, but is not currently accessible to the public.Dandara will invest
  
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• United Living wins 14-year L&Q homes repairs deal

  17-05-2024 08:54 via constructionenquirer.com
  United Living Property Services has been awarded a 14-year contract to deliver housing upkeep for social landlord L&Q in Trafford.
  The contract, worth up to £205m, covers all planned investment and regeneration works across L&Q homes in Trafford and forms part of the housing association’s North West Major Works Investment Programme.
  The programme is believed to be the industry’s largest investment with almost £3bn to be spent over 15 years.It will see all L&Q
  
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• McLaren gets go-ahead for Grade II listed Leeds student scheme

  17-05-2024 08:32 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Leeds City Council has approved the redevelopment of Springfield House to deliver a 334-bed purpose built student accommodation scheme centred around the refurbishment and conversion of the Grade II Listed Springfield House.
  The McLaren Property scheme will sit in mature landscaped grounds next to the University of Leeds campus.
  Designers Cartwright Pickard Architects have placed the refurbished Springfield House at the heart of the scheme. The Grade II building will be the main entrance to the
  
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• Piling giant to fit people alarms on all rigs

  17-05-2024 08:14 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Cementation Skanska piling rigs and cranes are being fitted with with the latest human form recognition technology in a bid to prevent accidents.
  The Spillard Safety Systems’ Human Detection System utilises a series of cameras fitted to the base of the plant that recognises people or objects if they get to close or encroach in a red exclusion zone.
  It then automatically suspends tracking and slewing of the machine to avoid contact while sounding an audible alarm. A screen fitted in the cab
  
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• ROCKWOOL launches Fire Barrier EN

  16-05-2024 15:57 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  To help designers and specifiers improve building fire safety, stone wool insulation manufacturer ROCKWOOL has launched a new fire barrier product that is tested in accordance with the latest BS EN standards.
  Fire Barrier EN is available with a black foil facing on one or both sides, for single- and double-layer systems respectively.
  Will Wigfield, Product Manager HVAC & Fire Protection at ROCKWOOL said: “Fire Barrier EN will replace our existing fire barrier products.
  “With the
  
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• Scaffold training scheme launches new online safety tests

  16-05-2024 15:37 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Scaffold training scheme CISRS with the help of NOCN will launch a new online alternative Health, Safety and Environment test for scaffolding operatives next month.
  In line with other recognised exemptions the online test covers the essential aspects of Health Safety and Environmental practices required for operatives applying for a CISRS card.
  The test provides high quality, neurodiverse eLearning content with an accompanying voice over which the operative can work through online prior to takin
  
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• Land deal paves way for Manchester civil service office hub

  16-05-2024 10:13 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Plans for a government digital campus for around 7,000 civil servants in Manchester have advanced with a significant land deal.
  The Government Property Agency has exchanged contracts to acquire five acres of the former Central Retail Park in Ancoats, from Manchester City Council.
  The land purchase is expected to complete fully next year, with construction of the 800,000 sq ft Government office complex set to begin in 2026.
  Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office, Alex Burghart, said:
  
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• Speller Metcalfe wins Wolverhampton library upgrade

  16-05-2024 09:14 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  City of Wolverhampton Council has appointed Speller Metcalfe as preferred contractor to deliver major works on the city centre’s Central Library and Adult Education Wolverhampton facilities as part of the £61m-Phase Two City Learning Quarter development.
  The Worcestershire firm has been awarded the pre-construction contract and will now develop the detailed designs and carry out some enabling works ahead of the main contract and full works starting in the autumn.
  The Central Library
  
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• Green light for £80m Leith waterfront revamp

  16-05-2024 09:06 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Edinburgh councillors have approved plans for an £80m revamp of Leith waterfront.
  The mixed use scheme at Ocean Point by S Harrison Developments will see construction of two blocks containing build-to-rent homes (BTR) and student accommodation.
  The scheme will be built next to Ocean Terminal which is undergoing a £100m transformation, delivering a mixed-use development comprising residential, commercial, retail and hospitality.Harrison has a long pedigree of working in the city inclu
  
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• Shareholders approve £2.5bn Barratt and Redrow merger

  16-05-2024 08:56 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Barratt and Redrow’s shareholders have overwhelmingly approved the anticipated merger of the two large housebuilders.
  The combined business would create a mega house builder turning over £7.45bn and delivering over 22,600 homes a year, based on past performance.
  The deal remains subject to clearance by the UK competition watchdog which has launched a preliminary investigation into whether the formation of would see a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets.U
  
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• Vistry to make £800m profit after subcontractor cost cuts

  16-05-2024 08:29 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Vistry is hoping to generate £800m in operating profit and return £1bn to shareholders after asking subcontractors for a 10% discount on prices.
  The house building giant asked its supply chain for cost reductions last October .
  In a trading update this morning Vistry said it “will benefit from lower year on year building material costs in FY24 reflecting engagement with our supply chain throughout 2023.“Our high level of visibility on forward sales and build programme ena
  
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• Tilbury Douglas clears Interserve legacy jobs to return to profit

  15-05-2024 13:48 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Tilbury Douglas has cleared the decks of legacy Interserve project joint ventures and pension commitments to return to profit in its first full year as a standalone contractor.
  Both construction and the more troubled engineering operations placed the past firmly in the rear-view mirror to return to profitability.
  But the £86m turnover infrastructure business continued to struggle in a challenging year and posted an operating loss.
  Following a review this year, the infrastructure business i
  
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• Skills shortage puts big infrastructure projects at risk

  15-05-2024 09:15 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  The deepening skills crisis is putting at risk the country’s ability to deliver big infrastructure projects as the government prepares to spend an unprecedented £800bn on projects, MPs have warned.
  Watchdog MPs on the Public Accounts Committee also warn a lack of necessary project know-how within Whitehall departments means the Government is failing to act as an intelligent client.
  The report published today warns skills shortages in technical and engineering disciplines are set to w
  
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• Contractors face further insulation board price hikes

  15-05-2024 08:59 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  The price of insulation boards is continuing to rise with another round of cost hikes set to hit this summer.
  The Construction Leadership Council’s Material Supply Chain Group flagged the issue in its latest update alongside rising prices for timber.
  It said: “There are reports of price volatility affecting two specific product areas, timber related products and PIR insulation boards, feeding into housing projects.“A steady increase in timber prices was predicted last year and
  
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• Keltbray hires new head of infrastructure procurement

  15-05-2024 08:27 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Keltbray has appointed Lukasz Olszewski as head of procurement at its infrastructure services division overlooking rail, energy and highways business units
  Olszewski brings a wealth of experience from his role as procurement manager at Italian contracting group Rizzani de Eccher, as well as from his previous employment with organisations such as Sigma, Murphy, Construction Marine, and Vinci Construction UK.
  In his new capacity, he will collaborate closely with Keltbray’s head office procur
  
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• Tunnel fit out robot to revolutionise civils work

  15-05-2024 08:25 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  A team of innovators including Costain and VVB Engineering has developed the first robotic and AI solution set to revolutionise the installation of mechanical and civil services in tunnels.
  The prototype Automated Tunnel Robotic Installation System (ATRIS) replaces traditionally hazardous, labour-intensive and time-consuming techniques and can autonomously select brackets, locate where they need to be mounted along a tunnel wall, and install them.
  Once fully-developed, the final system can be de
  
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• Henry Boot wins £36m Rotherham Markets job

  15-05-2024 08:12 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Rotherham Council has picked Henry Boot construction to deliver the £36m redevelopment of Rotherham Markets and an adjacent new library.
  The project forms a key part of the wider town centre masterplan and comprises a major refurbishment and redevelopment of the existing indoor and outdoor Rotherham Markets.This will include creating a new food hall and dining area on the first level above the existing ground floor retail, and workspace for charities, social enterprises and volun
  
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• Funding deal for £86m wind turbine test centre

  14-05-2024 16:18 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  The world’s most advanced wind turbine blade and drive train testing centre will be built in Blyth, Northumberland following an £86.5m funding deal.
  The new facility will be based at the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult’s National Renewable Energy Centre.
  Construction is scheduled to start this summer on the 150-metre blade test facility that will replicate the harsh conditions at sea.A contractor is yet to be confirmed for the scheme.
  Andrew Jamieson, ORE Catapult Chie
  
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• London 25km Super Sewer hooked up for commissioning

  14-05-2024 08:51 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Engineers on the London Super Sewer project have successfully connected the new infrastructure to the capital’s existing sewer system. 
  Ahead of the two-week connection job, a thick concrete wall separated the 25km super sewer from the 6.9km Lee Tunnel, which links Abbey Mills pumping station to Beckton sewage treatment works.
  Now, those two tunnels are connected for the first time, creating the London Tideway Tunnels network and paving the way for the new system to begin its protecti
  
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• Record results at maintenance specialist Renew

  14-05-2024 08:45 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Infrastructure maintenance and renewal specialist Renew has posted record first half results.
  And the firm is confident its core markets will continue to boom as infrastructure providers increase their focus on maintenance work.
  Results for the half year to March 31 2024 show pre-tax profits up to £30.3m from £26.3m last time on turnover up to £552.8m from £471.8m as operating margins stayed steady at 6%.CEO Paul Scott said: “I am very pleased to report we have deli
  
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